Here the completed cartoon has been suspended from the frame loom. It is the exact size as the tapestry will be. Once the bottom corners are secured, the warping will begin. Using a heavy continuous cotton cord, a consistent tension is maintained while looping through the notches alternately in the top and bottom horizontal beams. At 2.5 warp ends per inch, it takes many steps up and down the stool to complete the seven foot width of the tapestry.

The cartoon will remain behind the warps during the entire weaving process, serving as a template. The drawing is transferred to the warps using a waterproof felt marker. For accuracy's sake, it is best not to "trace" the entire image at one time. (Despite all efforts to maintain an even tension while warping, there will inevitably be some slippage of the warps as the weaving progresses, distorting the image, necessitating retracing...very messy!) It's best to trace only about 6 inches at a time above the current level of weaving, taking care to sight through the warps perpendicularly at each point.

BUT FIRST THE IMAGE WAS COMPOSED

Tracings of these two snapshots were used to create the composition.The tiger and foreground in the top photo were superimposed over the trees in the bottom photo.

ENLARGING THE IMAGE TO SIZE

At this point the composition is transferred onto heavy paper using a grid to systematically enlarge it. (The paper is used by commercial photographers as a backdrop and comes in rolls. Brown paper could be used and is easier to find.)